Heading Home with MUSHROOMS! (Patreon)

Okay. I realized today is April Fools. So first... there are no actual mushrooms, either psychedelic or normal. But I might've actually started a THING at Sherwood Forest Faire. If I was sticking around, I'm pretty darn certain it would be THING.

On Thursday evening, Andrew McKee and I had a great Brobdingnagian Bards show. It felt good doing that show because we were both a bit disappointed by shows the previous weekend. The shows themselves were okay. But both of our sets were plagued by sound issues. It meant that we both ended my messing up lyrics and music. It was really frustrating.

But Thursday, we chatted. We practiced. We put on a really good internet show.

I also threw out an idea for a song I was thinking about for the next Brobdingnagian Bards album, Another Faire to Remember. The idea was to write a hobbit drinking song about mushrooms... the every day edible kind.

We talked about it. Andrew quite easily came up with three verse ideas. He also talked about the concerns. We don't want to write a song that could be construed as about drugs. Because that's not our thing. Then we put it on hold to write later because we still had a show to do.

On Friday, I finished work and was tired of staring at a computer screen. I decided to try and write something. The basic idea was to write a song like "Old Dun Cow", where people have something fun to shout. So of course, I thought mushrooms would be perfect.

I began writing. An hour later, I had three verses finished. I emailed the song to Andrew to edit and maybe add another verse. But when I was going to bed that night, I ended up writing a final fourth verse.

You can read the lyrics below.

I didn't think I would do anything with the song yet. But Saturday came. I wanted to make sure I remembered the melody.

So I sang it. I sang it again. And again. It got catchier each time. After the Bards show, I went to the Wine Tasting booth that Jamie runs. I sat down and wrote the lyrics in a notebook so I could read them at faire.

After singing it to myself for 15 minutes, I wanted to test it out. I saw some friends sitting at a nearby table. I walked over asked if I could sing the new song.

It. Was. Magic.

It's such a simple song. But such a catchy, fun song to sing.

Before long, they were shouting, "MUSHROOMS"!

From there, I walked over to the Jerusalem Pub to get ready for Pub Sing. There were more friends there. "hey can I play you a song".

Before long... "MUSHROOMS!"

I tried to talk Alan O'Dale to let me sing it at Pub Sing. But he nixed the idea, sadly. And I get it.

Though his arguments, "Well, people won't know the lyrics!"

Um... When you master the art of the pub song, you really don't need people to know the lyrics. You will teach. They will learn.

When I sing, "mushrooms". You shout, "MUSHROOMS"

That's all it takes. And of course, that was proven by my two experimental audiences.

But again, that's okay. I understand him wanting a professional show. So I don't fault him for it. I also changed the initial key on Sunday so that people could better understand the verses. That would've been rough.

On Sunday, I played the song a couple more times for random friends at the faire. I handed one woman with her family my notebook and said, "please hold this open. I'm gonna sing y'all a song".

By the time my 11:30 show came around, I was desperate to share the song with more people. So I put the notebook on a stool and sang the song for both my regular show AND Hobbit Drinking Songs.

It was a hit throughout the day. Occasionally people saw me and shouted, "MUSHROOMS". I even saw someone post "MUSHROOMS" on their Facebook feed this morning.

So that's what I mean by I might've started a thing. I'm pretty certain it would be if I were still at the faire for the rest of the festival. Alas. It's time to go home and see my family!

In the meantime, here's the current lyrics. They may change if I can get more feedback from Andrew.

Mushrooms

Lyrics Marc Gunn and Andrew McKee

I went to the kitchen, cuz I had the itchin’, what food did I find there.There were taters and carrots, bread, cheese and mutton, all of my favorite fareBut none of it made, my stomach rumble, so I threw my hands in the airKnocked open the shutters, looked down neath the window, that’s how I became aware

* Why it’s mushrooms [mushrooms]That fill my heart with joyIt’s mushrooms [mushrooms]I don’t mean to sound all coyBut mushrooms [mushrooms]They make me shout with delightIt’s the littlest fungus that lives among usThat I love to eat each night

My friends and I were running through the fields trying to catch a hogThat old farmer Maggot said made a racket while he was cutting up a logWe crashed through the corn and stumbled through the thicket, we could barely see through the fogWe tripped and we tumbled, rolled in a jumble, landed face first in the bog

A round of drinks is what I think would fill my heart with cheerWe laugh and shout, with all hands out, as we order up more beerSure we love stew, but oh tis the brew that turns away all the sneersWhen food and drink, has a taste I think, that makes my memory clear

So my dear friends, please come on in and gather around the fireWe will drink a toast, to our fine host, and all our kin in the shireIt’s an earthy food. Now I’m in the mood and feeling quite inspiredThere’s some for all, so stand up tall and join in our choir.